Principal Secretary, Planning, Development & Monitoringand Information, Mr Rohit Kansal today said that rapid testing and effectivecontrol measures in J&K have helped reduce the rate of growth ofcoronavirus leading to decrease in doubling rate.
Mr Rohit Kansal, who is also the Govt Spokesperson, wasaddressing a press conference, whereat he gave an overall update about theCOVID situation in the Union Territory.
He said that thetesting rate in J&K has been increased to 703 per million, which is secondhighest in the country, while initially it was 77.5 per million.
“We were one of the first to have our own testingfacilities. Since then we have been continuously ramping up our facilities.From a testing capacity of 50 tests a day, the number of samples testedyesterday was more than 700” Mr Kansal informed and added that the capacitywill be shortly braced up to 1000 tests per day in our four ICMR accreditedlabs.
“We are enhancing testing capacities in these labs as welland shortly adding two more labs. We are maintaining supply chains of essentialreagents and are adding more and advanced equipment and manpower” he told themedia. He further informed that decentralised sample collection centres havealso been set up in the districts.
“Our strategy of aggressive tracing and increased testingwill continue” he said and informed the UT has received the first tranche of24,000 kits for undertaking the rapid COVID testing in the community. Thisalong with already established procedure will be used for more and moretesting.
Reiterating that there is certainly a case for some respite,he said as of this moment, the total number of positive cases in J&K is 380of which the number of active cases is 294, including 256 in the KashmirDivision and 38 in the Jammu division. One active case has been reported fromKathua district today.
“As you are already aware, there have been 81 recoverieswhich include young children and we also have had 5 unfortunate deaths” he saidand added that 60,000 (Sixty thousand) persons have been enlisted forsurveillance out of which nearly 35,000 (Thirty-five thousand) have completedthe mandatory 28 days period of surveillance.
Briefing on control measures, he said, based on the resultsand number of active cases and other parameters, five districts namelyBandipore, Baramulla, Kupwara, Srinagar and Jammu have been identified ashotspot districts in the UT.
“We do release district wise details of cases and you areall aware that taken together, these districts account for more than four-fifth(80%) of the cases in the UT” he informed.
Divulging further, he said 92 areas have been designated asRed Zones in the UT- 14 in Jammu Division and 78 in Kashmir Division. He saidthat these Red Zones will be under strict restrictions, extra surveillance andenhanced testing.
“We are conscious that this is an inconvenient process andpeople in Red Zones, Hot Spots and Containment areas do face difficulties” hesaid and that the administration and the health department are ensuring thatthe inconvenience is minimized.
He said “while we do believe a strict lockdown, a robusttracing process, aggressive testing and strict protocols have led toidentification of even asymptomatic cases, stamping out of many chains and aslowed growth it is important to emphasize that there is no room forcomplacency. We are dealing with a dangerous enemy and we need to be alert andwatchful.”
Giving further details, he said that the strategy ofaggressive tracing and increased testing will continue. “We will furtherstrengthen our surveillance system and procedure. We are launching a unique appSwasthya Nidhi COVID-19 Health Audit App for monitoring the households undersurveillance on real time basis and effectively monitor the health status ofthe enlisted individuals. A pilot of this project has already started in JammuDistrict. We are strongly encouraging the use of Aarogya Setu App. So far, morethan 6.5 lakh users have installed the App in the UT,” he added
He said that J&K was among the first in the country tobe alert to the problem. “We had probably the most effective and strictprotocols even at the cost of some inconvenience. We feel that a bit ofconvenience can always be sacrificed to achieve a larger goal. This is where weneed your support,” he added
He also expressed gratitude for the willing support receivedfrom all citizens. “I would request for your continued cooperation. I wouldalso strongly urge all of you to trust the department’s judgement whenever somezones are being designated as red zones” he appealed and said that this isbeing done strictly as per technical assessment and probability of cases.
“Our self restraint and discipline must continue. We shouldgo out only if we must. Use of masks has been made mandatory for everyone goingout. 1.20 crore masks are being made in J&K. Every member of a priority orAAY household will get one free of cost. Others will get it at a subsidy.Please use it” he said and appealed the people to follow all other advisoriesadding that there was no room for complacency.
For ensuring social distancing, he said that the religiousleaders and others have been making appeals to avoid all religious gatheringsand people must heed them as the gatherings literally serve as oxygen for thespread of the virus. They are prohibited and to be avoided at all costs
Meanwhile, he also gave details regarding supplies ofconsumables and Goods, and said the supply of essential commodities and othergoods is normal.
He informed that in the last 24 hours, over 1000 trucksincluding 340 trucks of fruit and vegetables and 325 trucks of rations enteredJ&K. The availability position is comfortable in both Jammu and Kashmirdivisions, he added.
In order to facilitate essential supplies, importantindustries, he said detailed guidelines in tune with and in the spirit of MHAdirections have already been issued. “Detailed SoPs have been framed andmechanisms for permissions, passes etc. formulated and streamlined” he told thereporters.
Regarding welfare measures, he said the same announced bythe LG from time to time and by the GoI under the PMGKY are also underimplementation.
“Nearly Rs 100 crore has been released by UT administrationto the DCs and various departments. To just quote, nearly 2.20 lakh destitute,labourers and other across 1245 camps are being supported across J&K” heinformed. Similarly, nearly 10 lakh qtl of food grains as advance rations ofApril and May already stand distributed among card holders, he added.
Distribution of free ration under PMGKY as well as pulseshas also started, he said and added that the labour department has transferredover Rs 15 crore to nearly 1.5 lakh registered construction workers.
Listing other measures he said, “Over 30000 private sector employeeswill benefit under PMGKY Scheme. Freeration has been provided for families of nearly 8 lakh children under MDM,besides Rs. 15 crore being transferred as cooking charges.
“Similarly 8.5 lakh Jan Dhan account holders have benefittedunder PMGKY, while 12.5 lakh beneficiaries are getting benefit of free gascylinder refills and Rs. 183 cr. pending payments to MGNREGA workers have beenreleased by RDD,” he added. He further said that the Helplines have been set upby the Resident Commissioner in Delhi, Labour Department, Divisional and DeputyCommissioners and various departments.
He thanked everyone associated in fight against coronavirusbe it health and police personnel, sanitation workers, media fraternity, people engaged in providingessential services, and general public. He also urged every citizen to follow aseven-point special appeal made by Prime Minister to help expedite the fightagainst coronavirus which included to take care of the elderly, follow social distancing, follow AYUSH Ministryguidelines on improving immunity, download Aarogya Setu app, help the poor,Compassion for employees and respect frontline workers.
Sh. Simrandeep Singh, Administrative Secretary, Department of Disaster Management,Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction; Dr. Syed Sehrish Asgar, DirectorInformation and Public Relations; and Sh. Bhupinder Kumar, Director NHM werepresent in the Press Conference.